Improvement in clock-cases



G. B. OWEN.

Ciock Case Patented Aug. 5, I862.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE E. OWEN, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

IMPROVEMENT IN CLOCK-CASES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 36,105. dated August 5, 1862.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE B. OWEN, of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in the Construction of Clock-Gases; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making a part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 is front or face View of my invention; Fig. 2, a section of the same, taken in the line w m, Fig. 1; Fig.3, a section of a part of the same, showing the construction and application of the hinge of the sash, yy, Fig.1, indicating the plane of section; Fig. 4, a longitudinal section of ah ordinary clock-case, drawn with a view of showing the difference between it and my invention.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures.

This invention relates to an improvement in the construction of that class of clock-cases which are constructed of sheet metal in eylin drical form and designed chiefly for small clocks.

The object of the invention is to simplify and economize in the construction of cases of the kind specified and at the same time obtain a case equally as durable and desirable in every respect.

To this end the invention consists in forming the case of a single piece of metal so spun or otherwise formed that it may receive the dial and the latter be made to serve the office of a brace or strengthening-partition for the The material of the case near its front end is so swaged or spun as to form an external recess or rabbet around the case for the sash to fit into, and its extremity is bent over inward toward the axis of the case and back ward, so as to form a beveled flange, which serves as a bearing for the dial and gives the front of the case a neat finish.

To enable those skilled in the art to fully understand and construct myinvention, I will proceed to describe it.

A represents the case of the clock, which is formed of a piece of sheet metal soldered together at its ends and spun in cylindrical form. The front end of the case, after the latter is made in proper cylindrical form, is depressed by spinning or otherwise, so as to form a recess, a, all around the ease, and the outer part of this depressed or sunken portion is bent and turned within the case, as shown at b, so as to form a beveled flange at the front of the ease and extending entirely around it at its inner side. This recess a receives the sash B when the latter is closed or fitted on the case A, as shown in Fig. 2, and the forming of the recess a and flange b at the front of the ease serves to stiffen the same and render it less liable to be injured or pressed out of proper shape by any external force.

0 represents the dial of the clock, which is fitted within the case A and abuts against the edge of the flange I), the dial being secured in its position against said flange I) by solder 0. (See Fig. 2.) The flange I), therefore, it will be seeu,effects three important results: It gives a finish to the front part of the case around the dial 0, strengthens or stiffens the case, and serves as a bearing for the dial 0. Bending the metal to form the recess a effects two re sults, to wit: It strengthens the case and forms a recess for receiving and supporting the sash B. The dial 0 also, in consequence of being placed within the case A, serves to strengthen or stiffen it Very materially.

At the back part of the case A a flange, D, is turned outward or struck up, as shown in Fig. 2. This flange strengthens or stiffens the back part of the case, and also serves to give it a finished or ornamental appearance. Another advantage, also, is attaincd by it, and that is, it gives the back part of the case a slight flaring or bellshaped form,which admits of the back E being readily inserted in the ease and removed from it.

The sash B is of the usual form and contains the glass which protects the face of the clock. The sash is connected directly to the case A by means of a hinge, F,which is formed of a metal strap, 6, passing around a wire, f, in the sash and through a slot, 9, in the side of the case, the inner end of the strap being secured by solder to the inner side of the case A. (See Fig. 3.) This form of hinge answers an admirable purpose, as it is not liable to get out of repair nor become detached from the case. An ordinary hinge applied to the outer side of the case would be liable to indent or bend the casein the opening and closing of the sash, provided the latter were not adjusted very nicely to the former, and, as the case is constructed of quite thin metal, the hinge would be liable to be wrenched off from the case and the latter ruptured thereby; but by having the strap 0 pass through the slot 9 of the case and soldered to the inner side thereof the strap is firmly retained in position, the slot itself serving in a great measure to sustain it.

The advantage of this mode of constructing the clock-case over the old way is rendered apparent by referring to Fig. 4, in which it will be seen that the body A of the case is made separate from the other parts, and in order to stiffen it an annular plate, B, is secured within it. The dial 0 is fitted in a separate ring, D, to which thesash E is hinged, and this ring is composed of two parts, involving considerable labor in construction and consuming much stock, the ring D being fitted on the case like a box-lid. The back F of the case is also constructed of metal, and has a projecting flange, a, to give a finish to the back part of the case.

In my invention the dial 0 serves in lieu of the plate B, and the expense of the latter is thereby saved, while bending the metal in ward, as at a and b, in connection with dial 0, renders the case-very stiff and firm when constructed of very thin metal.

the recess a and flange b at the front end of the case, all formed of a single piece of metal, as and for the purpose specified.

3. Connecting the sash B directly to the case A by means of the hinge F, formed of a metal strap, a, passing around a wire, f, attached to the sash, and through a slot, g, in the case, to the inner side of which it is secured; but this I only claim when the hinge is used with a case, A, constructed as herein described.

GEO. B. OWEN.

Vitnesses:

E. W. HODGSON, J AMES LAIRD. 

